Reviewed by I’maCowgirl, age 14

As many of you may know, a few months ago GHC had an Interactive View with author Jessica Burkhart on her series Canterwood Crest. I must admit I was a bit skeptical at first because most of the other horse-related books I’ve read proved to be rather disappointing, but Jessica came through for me! (*big grin*) I was and am quite pleased with it and can’t wait to get my hands on the next one. (In stores now.)

Here is a summery for those of you whose interest is aroused:

13 year-old Sasha Silver and her horse Charm have advanced to Canterwood Crest Academy, and while a bit sad at the prospect of leaving their old stable, Sasha is excited to meet new friends and prove herself and Charm to their new instructor, who is far tougher than the last. But from the moment they arrive things start to slide into an all too real “dream come true”. The classes are harder and punishments more severe. On top of demanding lessons, Heather Fox, proclaimed leader of “The Trio” (rulers of the 7th grade), see Sasha and Charm’s natural talent for jumping as a threat to her own chance at getting one of only five slots in Canterwood’s elite riding team.

With auditions for the team drawing near, tensions mound even higher and Heather’s tricks are growing dirtier. Will Sasha be able to rise above the Trio’s mean games or will she collapse, and with her the hope that she and Charm will make the elite team Canterwood? You’ll only know if you read Canterwood Crest: Take the Reins. ;)

(I hope this did justice to the book — I’ve never really done a review before.)

In addition to an enjoyable read, Take the Reins also gave me a better idea of what English riding and tack is like.

So, overall rating: four out of five stars, or in other words, well worth buying!

More to read...

• INTERACTIVE VIEW: Jessica Burkhart
• REVIEW: Wild Horse Island by Terri Farley
• REVIEW: Heartland

Reviewed by Andi, age 14

All of us being horse lovers, we read anything we can about horses. I subscribe to the magazine Horse & Rider. When talking to my fellow horse lovers about the magazine, they seem to have their doubts and questions about it.

So I wondered if my friends here at Girls Horse Club had the same questions. I found it just easier to give a review.

Horse & Rider is a very good magazine. I have found it very helpful. It gives great information about your horse and how to take care of him or her. What I really like about Horse & Rider is it just doesn’t give you info on horses only. I know that reading about horses over and over can be quite tiring and we sometimes need a little break. Horse & Rider gives you that, but at the same time keeps everything horse related. They give articles about everything including horse training tips, information about specific breeds of horses, and interviews with famous horse people, like a famous barrel racer, roper etc. It also has articles about horses that were supposedly rejects and ended up being good in the ring, and gives us different views about the much debated issue of horse slaughter.

Of course it can’t be perfect. Everything has its downfall. Horse & Rider has quite a few ads before we get to the good horse stuff. This has proved to be annoying. Flipping through ads of stuff that we know we will never be able to afford in a hundred years is rather agitating. Speaking of prices, you of course have to subscribe to Horse & Rider. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem, but most of us are entering the age where are parents won’t buy us everything we want. If we ask for something from our parents the usual response is, “Do you have money to buy this?” or “Save up your money and then you can get it.” So some of us would have to pay for our subscriptions. I will admit Horse & Rider isn’t necessarily cheap, but it’s not horribly pricey either.

Now here is the question: Would I recomend it? My answer is yes, I would. It has its downfalls, but Horse & Rider has proved to informative and worth the money.

More to read...

• REVIEW: Wind Rider by Susan Williams
• REVIEW: Phantom Rider by Janni Lee Simner
• A Horse Rider

Reviewed by Allison, age 13

Have you ever dreamed of doing more than riding? Have you ever wanted to save horses from more than horse slaughter? In the book series Heartland, Amy is living these dreams. She protects more than the horse destined to die; she saves the horse destined to live a sad, painful life. Besides hearing the sad stories of the horses in her care, Amy lives a happy life—that is, until her mother dies. Amy feels like it is her fault her mother tried to rescue a horse in that storm. She asked her mother to go, didn’t she? It takes seeing another overcome a death to help her realize it wasn’t her fault.

Anyone interested in alternative therapy for horses will be inspired by this book. Amy and her boyfriend Ty use TTouch therapy and herbal remedies to help the horses in their care. I was amazed to hear about this different method for helping horses. Amy also helps her business-minded sister, Lou, get over her fear of horses.

This series is incredible! While some horse books may be dry reading and not be very interesting (except for the horses!) this book is a real page-turner! You will love every minute you spend reading the Heartland Series!

More to read...

• Heartland on TV!
• REVIEW: Airs and Graces by Toby Bishop
• REVIEW: Wild Horse Island by Terri Farley

Reviewed by Blaze’ncowgirl, age 15

Hope Rising is a great and inspiring book about horses and the bond people have with them. The horses in the book have been rescued from terrible situations and have been abused, neglected or sometimes not wanted anymore. Kim Meeder, her husband Troy and their ranch Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch help these hurting and abandoned horses. They also help broken children, teenagers, and even some adults. The people help the horses to heal and the horses help them to heal.

My mom got this book for me from the library and I love it. It shows the dreams, hope, love, hurt, and healing that horses and people are able to help each other find and get over. This book has many small stories in it that illustrate these points and others. It also shows us what others and we can do to help.

On the book over the title it says ‘Stories From The Ranch Of Rescued Dreams.’ This is incredibly true (all the stories in the book are true). Hope Rising is a great book. It can be sad, but it has so much hope and love in it that I know horse girls and others will love.

Have you read Hope Rising? Please rate it: [ratings]

More to read...

• REVIEW: Phantom Stallion by Terri Farley
• REVIEW: Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
• REVIEW: Airs and Graces by Toby Bishop

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Delivering all the excitement and fun of the equestrian life, from sports and leisure riding to horse care, My Horse and Me is a unique gaming experience for anyone with an interest or passion for horses. The game features the most accurate horse models and animations yet realized in a video game, alongside a richly rewarding game play experience, all set against a beautiful backdrop of charming indoor and outdoor environments.

The Championship mode lets the player take part in competitions at indoor and outdoor locations around the globe ranging from rustic stables and classical riding schools to world-class tournament locations. A series of fun mini-games offer a variety of game play experiences alongside rewarding horse care game play and extensive customization.

PRODUCT FEATURES

• The only horse game with the official FEI license
• The only horse game to offer official tracks and official leagues (including some bonus cinematics) in game
• Ability to manage every aspect of the character day (feeding, grooming & stable management)
• Varied gameplay (dialogues, time management, minigames and the tutorial aspect)
• Ability to play in first or third person view
• Multiplayer mode (alternative play) will be implemented
• Replay of your courses can be watched with or without the trainer comments
• Players can take pictures during the game and print them from her/his computer

I have not played the game so can’t say what makes it different or better than the other horse games out there. The description says it’s ‘a unique gaming experience’ but the features sound similar to games like Equestrian Challenge, which also has licensed courses (Adelaide, Kentucky, Badminton, and Burghley) so I’m not really buying some of their claims…

But regardless of that, it looks beautifully done and they’ve put together a good website. (UPDATE: looks like the website is no longer available). It’s available for Windows PC, Nintendo DS and Wii (which could be great fun if the controls actually function like reins). For horse girls who can’t get enough of games like this, it may be worth a try.

Have you played My Horse and Me? Please rate it: [ratings]

More to read...

• Preview: Horsez PC Game
• Games Horse Girls Play
• PREVIEW: My Dream Stable

Reviewed by Rebecca Shyly, age 11

Terri Farley has done it again! This time instead of the dry desert of Nevada the Wild Horse Island stories take place in the tropical islands of Hawaii. Darby, the main character, made a small apearence in the Phantom Stallion series. Now she owns her own horse. She is moving out of L.A. into the more relaxed atmosphere of Wild Horse Island. Darby can’t relax too much though. She is forever busy trying to train Hoku, her firey filly. Terri definitely did an amazing job on this series. I have all of the books and every single one of them keeps me waiting for the next story. Anyone who likes the Phantom Stallion series will love this new one. And if you like adventure, tropical places and horses, this is the series for you. Welcome to Hawaii, horse girls!

Have you read Wild Horse Island? Please rate it: [ratings]

More to read...

• REVIEW: Phantom Stallion by Terri Farley
• INTERACTIVE VIEW: Terri Farley
• REVIEW: Phantom Rider by Janni Lee Simner

Reviewed by Rebecca Shyly, age 11

For Christmas my mother bought me the new book Airs and Graces, part 2 of the Horsemistress Saga by Toby Bishop. This is a fantastic book written by a fantastic author whom I look up to very much.

The story brings us back into the life of Larkyn Hamley, which is a truly amazing journey. The book gives you a sense of understanding because at this age we feel the changes of life, as does Lark.

This book is life-changing. It teaches life lessons and is heartfelt. I love it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Toby Bishop is a warm-hearted amazing person! I contacted her through email after reading her first book. She read some of my stories and supported me. She inspired me and made me feel confident about my writing skills. She is a fantastic author and a kind, amazing person. I give her 6 stars (on a scale from one to five)!

Have you read Phantom Rider? Please rate it: [ratings]

More to read...

• REVIEW: Airs Beneath the Moon by Toby Bishop
• INTERACTIVE VIEW: Toby Bishop
• REVIEW: Wind Rider by Susan Williams

Reviewed by SB, age 13

Another Farley has done it again. Rather than there being a black Arabian attached to a young boy in New York, however, there is a pearly white Mustang stallion bonded with his girl in the deserts of Nevada. Terri Farley may not be related to Walter Farley, author of the classic Black Stallion series, but her Phantom Stallion stories are just as memorable.

The story begins with meeting Sam Foster, a teenage girl recently being brought back to the life at River Bend Ranch after a terrible accident with her young horse that sent her to San Francisco to live with Aunt Sue. Two years later, Sam finds herself wearing a cowboy hat and teasing her old friend Jake Ely. Her father has presented her with a new horse, a runty brown Mustang named Ace who’s the underdog with the other horses.

One night, Sam hears a whinny over the farm that stirs something familiar inside of her. A silver stallion that Sam believes she has never met before seems to have the greatest trust in her, and Sam is bewildered as to why until she finds that her ragged black colt has grown into a ghost legend that haunts the river that runs by the ranch house.

A greedy neighbor, Linc Slocum, wants the wild stallion for himself and is prepared to do anything to get him. Find out what will happen to Sam and her long lost Blackie in the Phantom Stallion Series by Terri Farley.

I give it 5 hooves up!

Have you read the Phantom Stallion series? Please rate it: [ratings]

Terri Farley fans might enjoy reading our INTERACTIVE VIEW with Terri and the blog Love Wild Horses? Take Action!

Also check out this awesome fan site PhantomStallion.org.

More to read...

• INTERACTIVE VIEW: Terri Farley
• REVIEW: Phantom Rider by Janni Lee Simner
• REVIEW: Mustang: Wild Spirit of the West

Reviewed by Madelaina, age 12

Though I’ve only had the chance to read the second title of the series, I am eager to finish the other two books. It’s a completely different experience. If you like reading a bound of unpredictable adventure and advanced vocabulary, than the Phantom Rider Series is for you.

Written by Janni Lee Simner, the series of three books — Ghost Horse, The Haunted Trail, and Ghost Vision — is an enchanting path I recommend that everyone embark on for an interesting plot painted on a land described by Janni as more than just a barren desert.

Callie Fern and her family have just moved to Tucson, Arizona. In the first few days everyone considered it a dusty, humid desert with nothing but dirty cacti. However, in a period of only one month, everything changed. A special ghost horse called Star that died in a fire is out to seek Callie’s help in returning her back to her owner Michael, who died in the same circumstances. And soon, after every page, you realize that it isn’t just a walk in the park. Yes, midnight rides and galloping boundlessly is a thrill, but soon Callie’s own little flights have to be brought back down onto hard ground.

The Phantom Rider Series is a well-developed story, and throughout it my eagerness bar has yet to have dropped. It’s a series that’s motivating for readers of any age and level. In other words, read it — it’s worth your time!

Have you read Phantom Rider? Please rate it: [ratings]

More to read...

• REVIEW: Wind Rider by Susan Williams
• REVIEW: Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
• REVIEW: Mustang: Wild Spirit of the West

It’s been on my to-do list (for what seems like eternity) to tell you about Wind Rider, a couldn’t-put-it-down book I read over the summer. This week we received an email from the author, Susan Williams. Here’s some of what she had to say:

I just wanted to share a recent review of my book, Wind Rider in Horsetalk, a New Zealand equestrian directory. Wind Rider is soon to be published in Germany, and will be out in paperback next fall with a beautiful new cover. It is a teen novel about how the first horse might have been domesticated and takes place in Asia (where recent digs are showing that horses were first ridden) 6000 years ago.

I read almost every horse book available when I was a kid, but I never read about who might have tamed the first horse, so I felt it needed to be written! Because we all have roots in prehistory, I think it is a horse story that any kid will relate to.

Sincerely,

Susan Williams

From the moment I opened the cover of Wind Rider to the time I turned the last page, it was all I could do to take breaks for daily life. The story is set in prehistoric Asia and tells the tale of Fern, a young girl transitioning into adulthood at a time when survival was tough, animals were food (not pets), and girls did not have much choice about their role in life. Fern’s destiny is transformed when she discovers and rescues a young horse trapped in a bog, then eventually befriends and tames the horse.

If you like fiction that incorporates authentic details, you’ll appreciate the research effort that goes into crafting a novel set in prehistoric times. I read one interview where the author compared it to writing science fiction. Although Fern’s daily life is nothing like ours, Susan Williams paints an authentic picture and creates a young heroine who, through her independent spirit and deep love for animals, feels like our kin. I hope you have the chance to read Wind Rider — it’s definitely a Girls Horse Club top pick for the year.

P.S. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy Wind Rider. ;)

More to read...

• REVIEW: Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
• REVIEW: Airs Beneath the Moon by Toby Bishop
• REVIEW: Mustang: Wild Spirit of the West